Practicing Gratitude for Stress Management
"I’m too blessed to be stressed" has become a common phrase, especially
when we find ourselves in difficult situations. It's even a bumper sticker.
Though it may be true or a lot of people, the reality is that many of us live
in the opposite reality.
when we find ourselves in difficult situations. It's even a bumper sticker.
Though it may be true or a lot of people, the reality is that many of us live
in the opposite reality.
We rush through over-scheduled days, and too often, by the end of the day,
we don’t even remember all the beauty and good things in our lives.
we don’t even remember all the beauty and good things in our lives.
Stress has long-term consequences. Although it’s so common that we’ve
begun to believe it’s normal, it's been proven that it leads to a host of
chemical responsesin our bodies that can cause everything from depression
to hypertension.
begun to believe it’s normal, it's been proven that it leads to a host of
chemical responsesin our bodies that can cause everything from depression
to hypertension.
My mission is to help you learn how to stimulate the relaxation response
so that you can take control of your anxiety and protect yourself from
the damage that stress causes.
the damage that stress causes.
Gratitude is a practical and free remedy for stress. And it is easy to overlook
it's power.
it's power.
It is simply the acknowledgment of the good in our lives. It is the practice of
making time to reflect on all the good the world outside us. Many people have
well-worn neural pathways that consistently remind them of what is wrong in
their lives; they meditate on what is stressful, disappointing, uncomfortable,
and exhausting.
and exhausting.
The good news is that even if we have practiced the habit of negativity for
much of our lives, we always have the option to choose a new way to think.
much of our lives, we always have the option to choose a new way to think.
We are in much more in control of our thoughts than we might think we are,
and every moment represents an opportunity to go down a new path.
and every moment represents an opportunity to go down a new path.
In fact, you can start right this very moment!
If you’d like to begin transforming your thoughts with a gratitude practice,
consider
consider
starting with one of these practical tips:
1. Keep a gratitude journal and write in it each day. Don’t pressure
yourself, particularly as you’re beginning your practice. A simple list of
good things that happened throughout the course of your day is enough
to shift your mindset.
yourself, particularly as you’re beginning your practice. A simple list of
good things that happened throughout the course of your day is enough
to shift your mindset.
2. Say thank you often. When someone does something for you that is
encouraging, kind, or helpful, say thank you. Be as specific as possible
in your thanks, telling them exactly what they did and how it made your day
better. Expressing your gratitude to someone else is a great way to deepen
the experience, making it more likely that your brain will store and keep the
positive memory.
encouraging, kind, or helpful, say thank you. Be as specific as possible
in your thanks, telling them exactly what they did and how it made your day
better. Expressing your gratitude to someone else is a great way to deepen
the experience, making it more likely that your brain will store and keep the
positive memory.
3. Spend time in nature, and consider how amazing it is that we are always
surrounded by beauty, free of charge. Let this remind you to look for the
small gifts in your life that are easily overlooked in the hustle of everyday life.
surrounded by beauty, free of charge. Let this remind you to look for the
small gifts in your life that are easily overlooked in the hustle of everyday life.
4. Volunteer for an organization that improves the lives of others. A lot of
stressmcomes from being too focused on the little intricacies of our own lives.
Shifting our attention toward others can massively help us maintain a healthy
perspective. We all have resources to give, and giving those resources can
serve as a reminder that we are enough, and we have enough.
The health benefits of gratitude
As you begin to intentionally practice gratitude, you’ll probably notice that the benefits
go far deeper than just your thought patterns. There is great generative power in doing
that. It can create new reality in our minds, our bodies, and even our communities.
When your thought patterns change, you may be surprised to see things like reduced
pain and inflammation, lower blood sugar, a more efficient immune system, higher
productivity, better sleep, improved mental clarity, and more fulfilling relationships.
productivity, better sleep, improved mental clarity, and more fulfilling relationships.
The team at BrainTap has also designed a program that would be a perfect companion
on your gratitude journey. In fact, our Stress-Free Me bundle includes a number of
sessions created specifically to help you begin or maintain a gratitude practice.
If you want to start your happier, more positive life today, I would love to give you
30 days of audios, visualizations, and meditations, just drop me an email and I will
send them to you - no charge, no credit card required, and no obligation of any kind.
Dianna Whitley
diannawhitley@me.com
